Latch mechanism



March 16, 1937.

l J. H. RoETHEL LATCH MECHANISM Fi1ed Aug. l28, 193s 4 sheets-sheet 1 Arromw'sy:

March 16, 1937. J. H. ROETHEL u' l v LATCH MECHANISM Filed Aug'. 28, 193:5

4 Sheets-Sheet 2 /MHQ .d

INI/EMDR. Jhn h. /YoeiheZ ATTORNEYS.

March 16, 1937.

J. H. RQETHEILy LATCH MECHANISM Filed Aug. 2B. 1933 4 Sheets-Sheet l5 SNS ...E l

March 1s, 1937.

J. H. RoETHx-:L

LATCH MECHANISM Filed Aug. 28, 1935 4`SheetS-Shee1', 4

ATTORNEY- Patented Mar. 16,` 1937 "UNITED STATES Larrcn MEcnANIsM John n. mattei, Detroit, man., mmm to Ferro Stamping and Manufacturing Gom Detroit, Mich., a corporation` of Michigan Application'August 28, 1933, Serial No. 687,100

6 Claims.

This invention relates to latch mechanism for l doors and is particularly, although not exclusively, adaptable for use with the doors of closed automobiles and other vehicles. f 5 An object of the invention is to provide a latch mechanism of improved construction selectively operable by' outside and inside handles on the door and wherein means is provided at the inner side of the door whereby the outside handle may l be disconnected from the latch bolt so as to turn freely, thereby rendering it inoperative to lunlatch the door.

Another object of the invention is to provide a latch bolt mechanism having improved means 15 controlled bythe inner handle or other suitable means for rendering the outer handle inoperative, and wherein, in the case of a key-controlled latch the construction may be such that any independent actuation of the, latch bolt, as yby clos- 2U ing the door, will place the outerhandle in operative position.

A further object of the. invention is to provide an improved key-controlled locking means, carn ried by the outer handle for disconnecting the 25 same from the `latch bolt mechanism so that the outer handle, when-locked by the key, will turn freely. 1

A further object is to provide an improved latch bolt structurehaving a latch bolt preferably os- 30 cillatable on a horizontal axis and having mech-l anism for selectively oscillating the same upon turning the outer and inner handles. and also preferably having `means including a roll-back or cam capable of being connected to or discon- 35 nected from the outer handle shaft by means of mechanism at the inner side of the door.

A further object of the linvention is to provide an improved latch bolt and keeper` mechanism,

the latch bolt being mounted to rock or oscillate' n W on a horizontal axis and' wherein adjustable means, associated'with the keeper mechanism,

is adapted to cooperatewith the latch bolt when moved into closed position so as to hold thedoo'r v in rigid position with .respect to the bodyy pillar 4" against vertical vibratory movement.-

Other objects of this inventionyappear in the following description and appended claims, lreference being had to theaccompaying drawings forming a part of this spcication wherein "0 like reference characters designate corresponding parts in the several views.

Fig. l is a -fragmentary side elevationk illustrating an automobile body having a latch mech- F anism embodying the present invention installed on the door thereof.

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section taken through line 22 of Fig. l inthe direction of the arrows.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary vertical section taken through line 3-3 of Fig. 2 in the direction of the arrows.

(Cl. 'I0-149) Fig. 4 is a vertical section taken through line I--l of 'F1g.2 in the direction of the arrows.

\ Fig. 5 is a vertical section taken through line 5 5 of Fig. 2 in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 6 is a transverse vertical section taken through line 6--6 of Fig. 2 in the direction of the arrows. L

Fig. 'I is a section taken through line 'i-"I of Fig. 6 in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 8 is a section taken through line 8-8 of Fig. 'I in the direction of the arrows.

Fig.`9 is a detail sectional View illustratingthe roll-back and outer handle shaft mechanism in a position where the outer handle is locked by the key-controlled means.

Fig.r 10 is a similar view illustrating the mechanismin positionwhen the-outer handle is locked by manipulation of the inner handle.

Fig. 11 is an enlarged dtail section of a rollback and outer'handleshaft showing the position of the parts when the outer handle is locked and in free turning position'.

Fig. 12 is a vertical section illustrating another embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 13 is a horizontal section taken through line i3-I3 of Fig. 12 in the direction. ofthe ar- Fig. 14 is la section taken through line Il-M of Fig. 12 in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 15 is a detail section taken through line Fig. 16 is a detail perspective view of the spring controlled coupling member for the outer handle shaft.

Before explaning in detail the present invention it is to be Vunderstood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and arrangement pf parts illustrated in the accompanying drawings, since the invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or carried out in various ways. Also it is to be understood that the phraseologyor terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation, and it is not intended to limit -the invention claimed herein beyondthe requirements of the prior art.

The latch mechanism oi the present invention is herein shown, by way of example, as applied to a door 20 of a four door type automobile body 2 I. This body is provided with the usual center pillar 22 having a jamb rail 22a which carries the latch bolt keeper. The door 20 is provided with the usual metal door pillar 23 having a jamb rail 23a, the outer panel of the door being illustrated at 24. The door has an inside handle 25 and an outside handle26 for selectively actuating the latch bolt mechanism. In the present instance the latch bolt mechanism is carried by a channel shaped case plate 21 having an inner l side or flange 21a, an outer side or ange 2lb and 30 |5-i5 of Fig. 14 in the directicxi of the arrows. v

a central web 21e which is secured at 28 to the inner face of the jamb 23a of the pillar.

In the present instance the latch bolt is of the oscillatable type and in accordance with the embodiment herein illustrated is preferably mounted to oscillate or rock on a horizontal axis. 'I'he latch comprises a shaft 29, the front end of which is journaled in bearing pieces 30 and 3| secured within a cut-away portion of the case plate 21c l0 (see Figs. 7 and 8). 'I'he rear end of the latch bolt shaft 29 is journaled in a U-shaped strap 32 the ends of which, as shown in Fig. 6, extend through slits in the flange 21a and are clinched over the edges thereof. The shaft 29 terminates at its forward end in a latch bolt proper comprising a cylindrical portion 29a and a wedge shaped latch portion 29h.

Referring to Figs. 3 and 4 the latch bolt keeper comprises a stamped metal plate 33 which is attached by screws 34 to anoffset portion of the jamb member 22a of the body pillar so as to lie flush 'with the face thereof. The keeper plate 33 is pressed to provide a substantially horizontal open ended guideway or slot 35 for the travel of the latch portions 29a. and 29h into and out of latching position. This guideway at its entrance end is flared as shown at 36 and is provided at its upper side with successive wedge shaped recesses 31 and 38 shaped to conform to the upper angular sides of the latch projection 29h. The

rear end of the guideway is formed with a semicircular recess or socket 39 shaped to receive the cylindrical portion 29a of the latch boit.

Referring to Fig. 3 it will be seen that the base of the guideway 35 is slotted at 43 and through this slot projects a portion of an eccentric disk or roller 42 pivoted on a stud 4| carried by an offset portion 49a of a bracket 40 which is spot welded to the inner face of the plate 33. The ec- 40 centric 42 is notched out at 44 to provide a seat .for one end of a coiled spring the opposite end of the spring being seated against the rear flange of the case plate and the ends of the spring being fastened in any suitable manner to the seats. 45 By means of this construction, when the latch bolt is forced home into the cylindrical seat 39, the portion 29a of the bolt will ride over the upper curved surface of the roller 42 resulting in wedging the bolt portion 29a between the upper face 36a of the recess 39 and the upper face of the roller. Hence the bolt will act as a-means for rigidly clamping the door to the body pillar 22 against any possibility of vibratory movement of the door while the vehicle is in motion. With the Darts 29a and 29h in the position shown in full lines in Fig. 3 it will be impossible for the door to have any independent movement with respect to the pillar 22. Since the roller 42 is mounted to turn on its pivot 4| there will be no frictional 50 resistance when the latch bolt is rotated to unlatch the door, and since the spring 45 is under compression when the latch bolt is in closed position, this spring acting on the roller 42 will assist in freeing the part 29a when the door is opened-and will assist in starting it out of the recess or socket 39. Hence the spring controlled roller 42 performs two important functions. It takes the place of the usual dovetail in holding the door in solid position with respect to the pillar and it assists in ejecting the bolt from its socket 39 when the latch bolt shaft 29 is oscillated to unlatch the door. v

As illustrated in Fig. 6 the inside handle 25 lof the door is provided with a square bore 46 to receive the square shank 41a of a shaft 41 journaled in a flanged opening 48 f ormed in the case plate. The handle shaft 41 has a square portion 41b fitting into a square opening in the hub 49a of a rock arm 49, see Fig. 7. 'I'he inner end of the handle shaft and the hub of the arm 49 are enclosed within a housing 50 which has an opening forming a bearing for the inner end of the shaft 41. 'I'he arm 49 is normally held in neutral position as shown in full lines in Fig. '7 by means of a leaf spring |50, the lower end of which is fastened to the plate 50 as illustrated and the upper end 15| is normally lodged within a notch in the periphery of the hub 49a.

The rock arm 49 is bifurcated or slotted at 49h to receive a stud 5| carried by a tongue or projection 52 extending from the edge of a slide plate 53. This plate is mounted against the inner face of the front side of the case plate 21 and is guided for vertical sliding movement by means of a guide slot 54 and a stud 55 carried by the case plate. The slide 53 at its lower end is provided with a rearwardly extending flange 56 engaging the inner face of the flange 21h of the case plate, and the upper end of the flange 56 is bent laterally to provide a tongue or lug 51 which travels within a vertical slot 59 in the case plate, see Figs. 4, 5, and 6.

Mounted against the inner face of the flange 21h of the case is a second slide plate 59, see Figs. 5 and 6. 'Ihis plate is provided with a guide slot 66 into which extends a guide stud 6| carried by the case flange 21b. The slide 59 also has a projecting guide tongue 62 which travels within a slot 63 in the case plate, see Figs. 4 and 5. A lug or tongue 64 is pressed inwardly from an edge of the slide plate 59, and overlying this lug is a lug` or tongue -65 formed from the edge of the slide plate 53. the tongues or lugs 64 and 65 normally being in engagement as illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6. The lug 64 normally overlies the outer end of an arm 66 vand in engagement therewith, this arm being fixed at its inner end to the latch bolt shaft 29 as by means of a square opening in the arm 66 to receive a square portion of the shaft, ysee Fig. 8. A coiled return spring 61 is mounted on the latch bolt shaft 29, the outer end 61a of the spring engaging beneath the arm 66 and normally holding it and the latch bolt in latching position. The opposite end 61h of the spring is anchored to the case plate at 68, see Fig. '7.

The outer handle 26 is provided with a shaft ,69 reduced in diameter at its inner end to provide a shank 10. 'I'his shank is machined to provide diametrically opposed longitudinal key-ways 1I. Fitted over the inner end of the shank 10 is a sleeve 12 provided with longitudinal keys 13 extending into the key-ways 1| 'I'he sleeve 12 is formed with a collar 14, and the sleeve 12 is received within an oval bore 15 of a roll-back 16. It will be noted that the bore 15 in the roll-back is non-circular and has two diameters. Its vertical diameter corresponds to the diameter of the sleeve 12, whereas its horizontal diameter along its major axis is substantially greater than the sleeve diameter, as shown in Figs. 4 and 9 to 11 inclusive. The roll-back, as shown in Fig. 6, is counterbored to receive the collar 14 of the sleeve and the construction is such that the roll-back may be shifted laterally along its horizontal or major axis relatively to the sleeve 12 and shank 10 of the handle shaft. Relative vertical movement of these parts is prevented because of the equal vertical diameters of the sleeve 12 and the bore 15.

The roll-back 16 is provided at one side on its `major axis with an inwardly projecting lug or dog 11, which may' be shifted into and out'of a slot 18 cut through the wall of the sleeve 12. The/ lug 11 and slotA or recess-18 provide a coupling for connecting and disconnecting the rollback with the sleeve 12 and hence with the shaft '10. Lateral sliding movement of the' roll-back along its major axis isresisted by means of a leaf spring 19, the end 19a or which is anchored in the upper wall of a housing .80, see Flgs.4 and 6. The housing or casing 80-encloses the roll-back mechanism and is attached' to the side 21h of the main case plate by means of tongues which are projected through slits in the side `21b and are 'clinched over -into embossed recesses 8| and 82. L

The roll-back 16 is formed with a projecting lug or cam 83 which overlies a tongue or lug 84 struck out from an edge of the slide plate `59, see Figs. 4 and 5. This tongue 84 is guided `vertically within a slot l85 punched out of the Fig. 4 the roll-back 16 may be moved laterally metal of the side ange 21h. The roll-back at its lower side also has -a projecting4 lug or cam` 86, which extendsinto thepath of the projecting tongue orlug 51 on the slide plate 53, the lower wall of the housing 80 being slotted or cut away at 01, see Fig. 6, to permit upward travel of the tongue 51 into engagement with the cam 86 within the housing. It will be noted that thev slide plate 59, see Fig. 5, is provided with a guide slot 88 embracing the inner extreme end of the shank 10, so that the plate 59 isfree to slideT vertically relatively to the handle. shaft.

In the present illustration of the invention,

' the outer handle is shown as of the key-controlled 90 and includes a rotatable stem4 9| which is oscillated or turned in opposite directions by turning the key 90. The stem 9| projects into a bore in the shank 10 of the handle shaft and ter minates in an eccentrically located pin 92. This pin, as shown in Figs. 4 and 9 to 11 inclusive,

lies oi center with respect to the common axis of the stem 9|`and the shank 10, and is lodged within a vertical groove or slot 93 in a slide piece 94, which is' transversely slidable within ra transverse hole 95 formed in the shank 10. The slot 95 is in line with the hole 10 and the lug 11 so that by shifting the slide 94 toward the left 'in by forcing `the lug 11 out of the recess or slot 18,

. thereby disconnecting the roll-back from the sleeve 12. It will be readily seen that the slide piece 94 may be shifted in either direction within the slot 95 simply by turning the key 90, rotating the stem 9| -andthereby causing the eccentric pin 92 to shift the slide.

It will be understood that where the door is not provided with a key controlled locking means which moves upwardly into position to be enfor the outer handle, the lock mechanism, above described, includingthe slide piece 94 and the eccentric operating pin 92 will be dispensed with. In such instance the longitudinal bore through the shank 10 may also be dispensed with. In the present instance the inner end ofv this bore 'is closed by means of a plug 96 which has a press `t in the bore, this plug acting as a means for holding the slide piece 94 in position with respect to the eccentric pin 92.

The lower end of the main slide 53 is provided with a projecting tongue or lug 91, see Fig. 6,

gagd by the arm 66 when the slide 53 is shifted vertically, the purpose of the piece 91 being hereinafter described.

The outer handle shaft 69 may be readily assembled with the roll back mechanism through an opening |02 in the outer body panel 24, this opening being covered by a cap 98 provided with aninwardly extending cylindrical flange portion 98a flanged at itsI /inner edge to receive an antirattlespring 99. The tubular ange 98a of the cap has a bearing within a tubular flange portion of a-casing member |00 which is spot weldedto the face of the housing 80, see Fig. 6. The shank 10 is releasably locked with respect to the cap 98 by means of a snap ring |0| fitting into a groove in the shank 10, and the cap is locked within the casing |00 by means of a sets screw |03, see Fig. 2, this set` screw being accessible from thejamb face of the door through an opening or aperture |03a.

In the operation of this embodiment of the invention it will be seen that by turning the inner handle 25 to the upper dotted line position shown in Fig. 7, the arm 49 is swung downwardly there- `by shifting the slide 53 downwardly. The lug 65 will contact with the lug 64 on the slide plate 59 forcing the latter in a downward direction and thereby oscillating the crank arm 66. This operation will oscillate the latch bolt shaft 29 and move the latch member` 29h out of the keeper recess 38 into alinement with the guideway 35 thuspermitting the door to be opened. When the inner handle 25 is shifted to its lower dotted line position shown in Fig. 7 the slide 53 will be moved in Ian upward direction positioning the contact piece 91 immediately beneath the outer end of the latch bolt crank arm 66, see Fig. 6. This same operation will move the actuating `piece 51 upwardly in the slot 58 into engagement with the curved surface' of cam projection 86 on the roll back 16 thereby shifting the roll back laterally, see Fig. 10. This movement of the roll back will force the coupling member 11 substantially out of the slot or aperture 18 in the sleeve 12, thus disconnecting the roll back from the sleeve and from the outer handle shaft 69. With the roll back in the position shown in Fig. 10 the outer handle is in free turning position so that when the outer handle is turned it, together with its shank 10 and sleeve 12, will turn freely within the roll back.- Thus, the inner handle may be manipulated to disconnect the roll back and latch operating mechanism from the outer handle rendering the same inoperative.

With the parts in the position shown in Fig. 4

83 in engagement with contact piece 84 to shift the slide 59 downwardly. This movement of the slide will be transmitted to the crank arm 66 through the actuating piece 64 on the lower end of the slide 59. This actuation of the latch bolt to open the door by manipulation of the outer handle is entirely independent of the inner handle since the slide 59 is capable of Vertical movement independently of the slide 53 when the outer handle is manipulated.

Where the outer handle,I is provided with a key lock for locking the door` on the outside, as illustrated in this embodiment, the roll back 16 may be uncoupled from the sleeve 12 by turning the key V so as to rotate the eccentric pin 92. This movement of the eccentric pin within the hole 93 will shift the slide piece 94 laterally against the lug 11 thereby forcing the roll back laterally and the lug 11 out of the slot 18, see especially Figs. 9 and l1. Thus, by locking the door in this manner the outer handle 26 will be disengaged from the roll back and latch bolt mechanism, permitting the handle to turn freely. It will be understood that when the key 90 is turned in vthe opposite direction to unlock the door by shifting the slide piece 94 to the normal position shown in Fig. 4, or when the inner handle 25 is moved upwardly to its normal full line position of Fig. 7 thereby returning the actuating piece 51 to its normal position shown in Figs. 4 and 6, the roll back will be returned into coupled engagement with the sleeve 12 by the return spring 19.

Where the door is provided with an outside key controlled lock, as in the case of one of the front doors of closed automobiles, means is provided in the present instance for preventing the passenger from locking himself out inthe event the door is closed at a time when the inner handle is in depressed position. When the outer handle is in free turning position and the inner handle is in its depressed position shown in Fig. 10 it will 'be noted that the slide 53 is in elevated position at which time the contact piece 91 underlies the latch bolt actuating arm 66. Should the door be closed with the parts in this position, the latch bolt shaft 29 will be rocked thus swinging the arm 66 downwardly, and this movement of the arm will be transmitted to theslide 53 through the contact piece 91 thus forcing the lug or tongue 51 downwardly out of engagement with the roll back cam 86. Hence, any independent actuation of the latch bolt mechanism, as by closingthe door when the outer handle is in free turning position resulting from the manipulation of the inner handle, the latter will be returned to its normal position and the roll back will be coupled with the outer handle shaft.

When the outer handle is in free turning position it is preferred that the coupling lug 11 of the roll back be engaged slightly within the slot 18 of the sleeve 12, as illustrated in Fig. l1. Ac-

cordingly the inner end of the lug 11 is beveled to provide a tapered cam surface projecting within the slot 18 and held against the edge of the slot by the force of the spring 19. By this construction the outer handle, in free turning position, will not be loose so as to turn of its own accord. When, however, pressure is applied to the handle to turn it, the inner cam end of the lug 11 will cam itself out of the slot in the sleeve thus disconnecting the parts. A complete turn of the handle will bring the lug opposite the slot 18 again at which time it will be partially forced into the slot thereby holding the handle in its normal horizontal position.

It will be understood that where the key controlled'locking means 89-,-9| is omitted, the contact piece 91 will ordinarily be omitted from the slide 53, permitting the door, when locked by the inner hand1e,.to be closed without unlocking the outer handle. The foregoing embodiment of the invention is particularly adaptable for use in connection with automobile doors where it is desired to arrange the latch mechanism so as to straddle the glass runway G, see Fig. 2. In constructions of this type the inner and outer handles lie at opposite sides of the glass and glass runway of the door and it is desirable that the operating mechanism for the latch bolt, controlled by each of the handles, be constructed so as to extend around the runway. The present invention thus provides a latch bolt operating mechanism of improved construction which is adapted to straddle the glass runway to permit operation of the mechanism from the inside and outside of the door without interference with the runway.

Referring to the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 12 to 16 inclusive, in this instance the inner handle 25 is remotely located with respect to the latch mechanism and the outer handle 26 has its shaft 69 reduced to provide a shank 10 extending transversely of the door pillar, as illustrated in Fig. 13. The latch mechanism in this instance is carried by a case plate |04 secured to the inner side of the door pillar 23a and having a flanged side |0411 at the inner side of the pillar. 'Ihe latch bolt including its shaft 29 is constructed in the same manner as previously described, and'as in the previous embodiment the inner end of the shaft shank 10 is provided with longitudinal key ways into which t the keys 13 of the sleeve 12. 'Ihe roll back 16 is also substantially similar in construction and mode of operation to the roll back 16 in the previous embodiment and is provided with a coupling lug 11' shiftable into and out of a slot or opening in the sleeve 12. The roll back is also provided with an actuating cam 83' and has a projection forming a seat for a return spring |06, this spring functioning in the same manner as the spring 19 in the previous embodiment. The latch bolt is normally held in latching position by means of a coil spring 61' one end of which is anchored to the case plate at |08 and the other end anchored in a hole I08a in the shaft.

The latch bolt is rotated from the inner and outer handles by means of a three-arm lever |69, one arm ||0 of which engages beneath the cam 8'3, and another arm III of which is engaged by the lower cam-shaped end of a member H3 engaging a crank pin I4 fixed to the shaft 29. The lever I 09 is pivoted to the case plate on a stud ||2 and has a depending arm I5 normally engaged at its front edge by a projection or abutment |I6 formed in the forward edge of a hanger link ||1 pivoted on the stud I I2. Pivoted at ||8 to the lower end of this link is a link 9 extending 1ongitudinally of the door and pivoted at its end |20 to the lower endof a lever |2 I. The upper end of this lever. is fixed to a shaft |22 extending through the'inner panel of the door. The handle 25 is fastened to the outer end of this shaft.

'I'he roll back 16 may be shifted laterally to disconnect it from the outer handle shaft by means of a cam slide |23. 'I'his slide has a guide slot |24 cooperating with a guide stud |25 secured to the ease plate. An actuating rod |26 is threaded into the upper flanged end of the slide |23 and projects through the flanged opening in the inside window sill D of the door, the upper end of the rod having a nob |26a which may be readily grasped for shifting the slide upwardly or downwardly. The slide |23 has a. lost motion slot |21 into which projects a crank pin |28 fixed into the shaft 29. The lower end of the slide |23 has a cam face I 29 adapted to coact with the cam face I 30 on the roll back cam 83'.

Assuming that the roll back is coupled to the shank 10' of the outer handle shaft, it will be seen that by turning-the outerhandle the cam 83' will depress the arm ||0 of lever |09 whereby upward movement of the arm against the cam H3 will rock the latch bolt shaft through the crank pin connection lill, thus unlatching the bolt. When the inner handle 25 is moved to the dotted line position the lever |09 will be shifted in the same manner to unlatch the bolt by virtue of the engagement of abutment ||6 with the arm ||5 of the lever. As a result of this construction either handle may be turned to operate the latch bolt i independently of the other handle. When it is desired to render the outer handle inoperative the plunger |26 may be pushed downwardly whereby engagement of the cam faces |29 and |30 will shift the roll back laterally so as to disconnect l0 the dog 11' from the slot in the sleeve 12', as in the manner previously described. The lost moi tion slot |21 permits downward movement of slide |23 relatively to the shaft 29. However, with the slide in its lowermost position, independent oscillation of the latch bolt as by closing the door will cause the crank pin |20, acting against the upper edge of slot |21 to shift the slide vertically into the position shown in Fig. 12 at which time the rollback will be coupled to the outer handle shaft.

Where the outer handle 26 is not provided with a key lock the pin |28 for returning the roll back to normal position may be omitted, this pinfunctioning the same as the part 91 in the previous embodiment. In this instance the outer handle is 26 provided with a key lock constructed the same as in the previous embodiment and operable, when the key is turned, to shift the slide piece 94 so as to disengage the roll back.

The roll back mechanism is mounted within a 30 casing |3| secured to the side |04a of the case plate. Mounted on the face of the casing |3| is a housing plate |32 provided with flanges |32a. spot welded to the side of the casing |3|. This housing has a circular opening |33 of a diameter 35 to receive the handle shank 10' and the collar 14 thereon, this collar corresponding to the collar 14 in the previous embodiment. Within the housing plate |32 is located a slidable coupling member |34. This member has an opening |35 corresponding to the diameter of the collar 14 of the shank anda smaller opening |36 corresponding to the diameter of the shank 10'. The member |34 terminates in an angular extension |31 notched at |33 to receive a spring |39, the ends of the spring being anchored at |40 to the slotted end of the plate |32. The extension piece |31 is guided in thisslot and the member |34 may be shifted inwardly against the spring by inserting an implement through the opening |42 in the door jamb into engagement with a bent tongue |4| in alinement with this opening and normally positioned within a corresponding opening in the case plate |04. It will be readily seen that by shifting the coupling slide |34 inwardly so as to aline the large opening |35 with the collar 14', the outer handle may be grasped and the shaft entirely withdrawn from the door.

Hence, the shaft may be readily assembledbyv sliding it into the sleeve 12' into engagement with the keys 13', whereupon the member |34 is released so that the opening |36 will embrace the shaft in advance of the collar 14', thus locking the parts together.

I claim:

bolt oscillatable on a horizontal axis, van oscil- .5 bolt shaft osciuatabie on a. horizontal ams, a.

1. A door latch mechanism comprising a latch handle having a rotatable shaft extending at right angles to said latch bolt shaft, a crank on said latch bolt shaft for oscillating the'latter, means on said handle shaft for operating said crank, and means operable to shift the first named means transversely with relation to the axis of said handle shaft for disconnecting said first means from the handle shaft.

3. In a. latch mechanism for a door and stationary jamb, a keeper plate carried by said lamb and having a horizontal channel way extending transversely of the door, said channel way having a pair of similar latch receiving recesses at one longitudinal vside thereof and terminating at its inner end in a socket in rear of said recesses, a cylindrical horizontal latch bolt rotatable on its axis, the end of said bolt being slidable through said channel way and having an angularly extending latching member shiftable' into and out of said recesses, and movable means rigidly supported on said jamb and cooperating with the end of said bolt for maintaining the same in fixed position within said socket.

4. In 'a latch mechanism for a door and stationary jamb, a keeper plate carried bysaid jamb and having a horizontal. channel way extending transversely of the; door, said channel way having a pair of Wedge shaped latch receiving recesses at one longitudinal side thereof and terminating at its inner end in a socket in rear of said recesses; ay cylindrical horizontal latch bolt rotatable on its axis, the end of said bolt being slidable through said channel way and having an angularly extending latching member shift-` able into and out of said recesses, and an eccentric roll mounted on-the lamb and having a part projecting into said channel way in the path of the end of said bolt for rigidly supporting the same within said socket. s

5. A latch bolt mechanism for a door in which the latch bolt is rotatable on a horizontal axis extending longitudinally of the door and including outer and inner shafts and handles for operating said shafts; a roll back mounted on said outer shaft and shiftable transversely of the axis thereof, a shiftable member adapted to be operated selectively by said roll back and by the inthe latch boltis rotatable on a horizontal axis extending longitudinally of the door and including an outer handle having a shaft and an inner handle having a shaft; a -roll back on the outer shaft and shiftable transversely of the axis thereof. a shiftable member adapted to be operated selectively by said roll back and by the innen shaft, a crank arm fixed to the latch bolt and operated by said shiftable member for rotating said bolt, means movable in one direction for shifting said roll back relatively to the outer shaft to disengage the lroll back from said shaft and permit free turning of the outer shaft, a.`

spring for returning said roll back, and means operated upon independent movement of said bolt for moving said first means in the opposite direction thereby permitting the spring to return the roll yback into engagement with the outer shaft. 

